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Basketball

Special Olympics athletes Nick Van Denburgh of Minnesota and Michael Reed of New Jersey tip off at the 2013 Special Olympics Unified Sports Basketball Game at the NBA All Star Weekend. Photo by Will Schermerhorn

Basketball is a favorite Special Olympics sport. This basketball sport center draws together sport news and stories, upcoming events and links to the Special Olympics Basketball Coaching Guide.

Basketball is one of the top sports at Special Olympics. Players take it up at all ages and at all abilities, from young players learning to handle the ball and keep it under control while dribbling to older, more experienced players who have the moves and know the strategies to play challenging ball.

It's also one of the favorite sports for the Special Olympics Unified Sports initiative, when players with and without intellectual disabilities form teams to play other unified teams. It's a learning experience that's also a lot of fun.

Quizzes

March 24, 2015 | Europe Eurasia: France

2015 Basketball School World Champions to be show how to Play Unified

By Sabine Menke

The demonstration opportunity follows a partnership agreement signed between Special Olympics and the International School Sport Federation, organisers of the Championship.

For the first time, a Special Olympics Unified Basketball demonstration will take place at the 2015 Basketball School World Championship in Limoges, France from April 18 to 24.View Story ▼For the first time, a Special Olympics Unified Basketball demonstration will take place at the 2015 Basketball School World Championship in Limoges, France from April 18 to 24.
Two Special Olympics France Unified Basketball teams will be involved with young players training from 15 to 18 from a high school and special needs institution who have been training together since October 2014.
“I made new friends and we share together very good moments” says Christopher, 18. Alexis, aged 15 and playing basketball since 2010, says: “We have learnt respect”. For Maxime, 15 years old, she now has “a new mind set, a more interesting way of playing.”
Coach Eric Noireaud commends the athletes for their team spirit “During their training sessions, athletes and partners have got to know each other. They have developed a mutual friendship. They have learnt to play together and respect their differences”.

March 20, 2015 | Europe Eurasia: France

Special Olympics France Unified Basketball demo game at ISF Basketball World Championship

By Nathalie Dallet-Févre

Special Olympics France will present two Unified basketball teams at the Basketball School World Championship to be held in Limoges (France) from April 18 to 24, 2015.View Story ▼Special Olympics France will present two Unified basketball teams at the Basketball School World Championship to be held in Limoges (France) from April 18 to 24, 2015.
This major sport event is organized by the International School Sport Federation (ISF) and UNSS its French branch. It will gather around 700 young players from around the world. During the opening ceremony, Special Olympics athletes and partners will play a demonstration game of unified basketball. This is one of the first initiatives following the partnership agreement signed in September 2014, by Laurent Petrynka, President of the ISF and Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International.
The Special Olympics French Unified basketball players are aged from 15 to 18, and come from a secondary school and a special institution. Christopher, 18, says: “I made new friends and we share together very good moments”. Alexis, aged 15 sums up: “we have learnt respect”. Their coach, Eric Noireaud states that “during their training sessions, athletes and partners have got to know each other. They have developed a mutual friendship. They have learnt to play together and respect their differences”.

About Nathalie Dallet-Févre:Nathalie Dallet-Févre is CEO of Special Olympics France

March 11, 2015 | North America: Virginia

Lizzy and the Lions ROARED for Special Olympics Virginia

By Katie Botha

The Lions present Matthew (second from right) with their "basket fund" proceeds.

Eight-year-old Lizzy and her fellow basketball teammates needed to turn their season around. They had never played together before and kept losing against more experienced teams. Lizzy's mom and coach, Carrie, had a plan...View Story ▼Eight-year-old Lizzy and her fellow basketball teammates needed to turn their season around. They had never played together before and kept losing against more experienced teams. Lizzy's mom and coach, Carrie, had a plan...for each basket they made, win or lose, she'd donate $10 to the local Special Olympics program.
The plan worked! At the end of the season, they felt like winners despite having lost every game. Their proudest moment? Presenting Matthew, a Special Olympics athlete, with a check for more than $400.
"Choosing Special Olympics to give back to was meaningful to my girls who struggled each game, but continued to persevere by working together and gaining tremendous friendships," said Coach Carrie. The Lions will complete their season this weekend by helping Matthew's team practice for Special Olympics Virginia's Basketball Championships to be held March 20 - 21 in Stafford, Virginia. Fans of all ages are invited to come cheer on Matthew and 800 other champions next weekend!

About Katie Botha:I am Vice President, Development & Communications at Special Olympics Virginia.

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Upcoming Basketball Events

Date

Event

Location

April 01, 2015

7th Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament

Join us Wednesday, April 1st at Bennett Sports Center in Midland, Michigan as our as athletes compete and show their skill in wheelchair basketball competition. Come and cheer on our athletes and witness the power of sports. If you would like to participate in the tournament the cost is $30 per team with 6 people to a team. For more details please use the contact information below.For more informationMary AdamsEmail:area30@somi.orgView More

Bennett Sports CenterMidland, MichiganUNITED STATES

Apr 18 - 19 2015

Spring Sports Basketball Tournament

Special Olympics Vermont Spring Sports is a basketball tournament in disguise. This is an exciting weekend competition that takes places at the University of Vermont’s Patrick Gymnasium. The event includes traditional Special Olympics competition as well as Unified Sports® team basketball.For more informationMore DetailsSpecial Olympics VermontPhone:802-863-5222View More

Patrick Gymnasium, University of Vermont97 Spear StreetBurlington, VermontUNITED STATES

May 13 - 15 2015

Oklahoma State Summer Games

Special Olympics Oklahoma athletes numbering in the thousands will meet in Stillwater in May for Summer Games. Staff and hundreds of volunteers are on hand to make sure athletes have three days full of competitions, Olympic-style ceremonies, Olympic Village, food, housing and many fun activities. Special Olympics Oklahoma athletes will compete in nine sports: Athletics (Track and Field), Bocce, Bowling, Golf, Horseshoes, Powerlifting, Unified 3-on-3 Basketball, and Unified Softball. Other events include Motor Activities and Stars of the Future.For more informationMore DetailsView More

Oklahoma State UniversityStillwater, OklahomaUNITED STATES

May 25 - 27 2015

2015 Special Olympics Ontario Provincial School Championships

Join us on May 25-27 in Oshawa, Ontario Canada as our as athletes compete and show their skill in basketball, bocce, soccer, and track & field competition. Come and cheer on our athletes and witness the power of sports. For more details please use the contact information below.For more informationMore DetailsView More

Oshawa, OntarioCANADA

Jun 4 - 6 2015

Pennsylvania State Summer Games

The Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games will be held at Penn State University in State College. The event will together over 2,000 athletes and 750 coaches from across the state. This is our largest event of the year. The Summer Games will feature three days of intense competition in aquatics, athletics, basketball, bowling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, softball and tennis. Every race, every game, every competition held at Summer Games represents many weeks of training, preparation and dedication on the part of our athletes, coaches and volunteers. Spectators are welcome to visit any of the competition venues and cheer on the athletes.For more informationMore DetailsView More

Penn State UniversityState College, PennsylvaniaUNITED STATES

Jun 19 - 20 2015

Idaho State Summer Games

Come and cheer on our athletes during our State Summer Games as they demonstrate their courage and determination for 2 days of sport competition in athletics, basketball, aquatics, cycling and powerlifting. This event will be held on June 19-20 at in Moscow, Idaho. Support our athletes and experience sports in its truest form. For more details please use the contact information below.For more informationMore DetailsSpecial Olympics IdahoPhone:800-915-6510View More

Moscow, IdahoUNITED STATES

Jul 24 - Aug 2 2015

World Summer Games Los Angeles 2015

In July of 2015 more than 7,000 athletes from 170 countries will come to Los Angeles, California for the Special Olympics World Summer Games and enjoy 10 days full of joy, friendship and competition. Athletes will compete in 22 sports. The event expects to attract 500,000 spectators and 30,000 volunteers and 3,000 coaches.For more informationMore DetailsWorld Summer Games Los Angeles 2015Email:info@la2015.orgPhone:213-892-6018View More

Various Locations, Los AngelesLos Angeles , CaliforniaUNITED STATES

November 07, 2015

Coaches Training - Conference

Join us on November 7th at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. This coaches training will cover the following sports: poly hockey, bowling, basketball, and Winter Games sports. To register for this event please use the link below. If you have further question please contact Zach Warner at warne1zd@cmich.edu.For more informationMore DetailsZach WarnerEmail:warne1zd@cmich.eduView More

Made Possible by The Annenberg Foundation

The Special Olympics movement is profoundly grateful for the support of the Annenberg Foundation which has underwritten the production of the coaches’ guides and resources, supporting our global goals for coaches’ excellence.